UN: Serious Human Rights Violations, Potential War Crimes

The group known as the
Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and its allies
are imposing “untold hardship and suffering” on Iraqi
civilians, the United Nations said today in a report that
also casts doubt as to whether Iraqi security forces (ISF)
and associated forces have done enough to protect civilians
during hostilities.

The report, compiled by the UN
Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) and the UN human rights
office (OHCHR), is based on direct monitoring activities as
well as a variety of sources, including civilian victims and
witnesses, of events between 5 June and 5 July.

It
documents ISIL and allies carrying out “large-scale
killings, injuries and destruction and damage of livelihoods
and property,” according to OHCHR, including in
“markets, restaurants, shops, cafes, playgrounds, schools,
places of worship and other public spaces where civilians
gather in large numbers.”

“ISIL and associated armed
groups have carried out many of these attacks in a
systematic manner heedless of the impact on civilians, or
have systematically targeted civilians and civilian
infrastructure with the intention of killing and wounding as
many civilians as possible,” the report states.

At least
1,531 civilians were killed in Iraq last month and 1,763
were wounded, according to UN figures. Some 1.2 million
Iraqis have been internally displaced as a result of the
violence – including over 600,000 since the beginning of
June alone.

The report also documents violations committed
by ISF and associated forces, including summary executions
and extrajudicial killings of prisoners and detainees,
“which may also amount to war crimes.”

Report authors
also raised concerns about whether ISF and affiliated forces
adhered to the principle of distinction and
proportionality.

“International law requires that both
the Iraqi State and armed groups take all measures to
minimize the impact of violence on civilians,” said
Nickolay Mladenov, the Secretary-General’s Special
Representative for Iraq and head of UNAMI.

He stressed
that, in addition, State and armed groups must “respect
the principles of distinction and proportionality when
carrying out military operations,” as well as “take
steps to ensure the safety and protection of civilians by
enabling them to leave areas affected by violence in safety
and dignity, and to access basic humanitarian assistance at
all times.”

The report also notes that children have
been disproportionately affected by the conflict.

“In
all conflict-affected areas, child casualties due to
indiscriminate or systematic attacks by armed groups and by
Government shelling on populated areas have been on the
rise,” it states. “Credible information on recruitment
and use of children as soldiers was also received.”

UN
High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said she was
particularly concerned about the protection and welfare of
members of vulnerable groups who remain in areas affected by
the armed conflict, especially women, female-headed
households, children, people with disabilities, the elderly,
and members of minority groups.

“Every day we receive
accounts of a terrible litany of human rights violations
being committed in Iraq against ordinary Iraqi children,
women and men, who have been deprived of their security,
their livelihoods, their homes, education, healthcare and
other basic services,” she said.

“The deliberate or
indiscriminate targeting of civilians, the killing of
civilians, the use of civilians as shields, the hindering of
access for civilians to humanitarian assistance may amount
to war crimes or crimes against humanity,” she
added.

The Government of Iraq is obligated to investigate
serious violations, she stressed, and to hold the
perpetrators to account.

Senior UN officials, including
Mr. Ban, have reiterated the importance of a solution based
on inclusive political and social processes that will
address the concerns of all communities.

Mr. Mladenov
noted that now that a Speaker of Parliament has been
elected, “it is vital that Iraqi leaders quickly move
forward on the nomination of a new President and a new
Government.”

Meanwhile, the UN High Commissioner for
Refugees, António Guterres, warned today that Iraq risks
“full-fledged sectarian war and complete fragmentation”
as Iraqis continue to flee their homes and minority groups
are targeted.

Iraqi politicians and the international
community are “running out of time to act,” said the UN
refugee chief, who arrived in the country earlier this week
and witnessed the dire conditions facing some those uprooted
by the
violence.

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